Homes and Lane (Lauritz Homes and Charles Lane), Coachbuilders and Wheel-wrights, Maxwell Road, Blenheim. Established 1888. The premises have a frontage of fifty feet. Messrs Homes and Lane manufacture all classes of vehicles, but they make a specialty of dogcarts and springcarts, for which they have gained an excellent reputation. The firm has gained several first prizes for its manufactures at the Marlborough agricultural and pastoral shows. Six persons, including a blacksmith, are regularly employed by the firm.

Mr. Lauritz Homes was born and brought up in Blenheim, where he served his apprenticoship with the late Mr. John Macalister, with whom he remained seven years, and then started on his own account. Mr. Homes is a member of several societies.

Mr. Charles Lane was born at Nelson in 1861, and servod his apprenticeship as a coachbuilder with Messrs Balme and Co., with whom he remained seven or eight years. He also worked at his trade in Blenheim, and was for a short time in Wellington. On returning to Blenheim he started his present business.

James, Edward, Coachbuilder and Wheelwright, High Street, Blenheim. Established in 1881. Mr James can turn out every class of vehicle at his establishment, where he has every necessary appliance, such as tyre-benders, tyre-upsetters, tyre-plates, etc. He therefore can hold his own with all competitors, and give a good article at a fair price. Mr. James was born in Melbourne in 1855, and served his apprenticeship with Mr. John Matthews, of King Street, Dunedin. After completing his time, he came to Blenheim, and was employed with the late Mr. John Macalister. Mr. James has taken considerable interest in local affairs. For two years he was a member of the Borough Council. He was for many years a member of the Fire Brigade, of which he has been lieutenant, and has also been sergeant in the Blenheim Mounted Rifles. He has also been connected with the Freemasons and with the Foresters, for a long time. Since 1895, Mr. James has filled the office of president of the Working Men's Club. He has been a member of the Borough School committee since 1898, and is on the committee of the local cycling club.

Kirby Bros , (H. Kirby and T. A. Kirby), Coachbuilders, Wheelwrights and General Blacksmiths, Alfred Street, Blenheim. Bankers, Bank of New Zealand. This large and flourishing business was established in 1885 by Mr. J. S. Kirby. It was begun in a very small way, but is now in the van of businesses of its class in the province of Marlborough. Work is constantly received from all parts of the district, and orders have been fulfilled for customers in other parts of the Colony. In the coachbuilding department, Messrs Kirby Bros. turn out waggons and the heavier lines associated with the trade, as well as buggies and shooting carts, Indeed, a specialty is made of shooting carts, which have always given satisfaction to the firm's page 343 numerous customers. Mr. J. S. Kirby retired in 1898, when he left the business in charge of his two sons, H. Kirby and T. A. Kirby, the first of whom conducts the coachbuilding department, and the second, the general blacksmith and farrier department, each assisted by a large staff of experienced workmen.

Mr. T. A. Kirby was born in London, and came out to New Zealand with his parents in 1876. He learned his trade at Blenheim under Messrs E. James and Tunnicliffe, and afterwards visited various parts of the colony, in order to be able to compete with the best in the business.

Mr. H. Kirby was born in London, and came to New Zealand with his parents in 1876 by the ship “Wennington.” He was educated at the state school at Blenheim, and served for seven years under his father at the coach building trade. He then went to the North Island, where he stayed for about three years gaining further experience.